Written Answers Monday 4 February 2008

Scottish Executive

Airports

Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to commission a policy and financial management review of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).

Stewart Stevenson: I anticipate that a Policy and Financial Management Review (PFMR) of HIAL will start in May 2008.

  The PFMR process will ensure that HIAL is subject to challenging review, taking full account of the views of all stakeholders, to ensure that the right structures are in place to deliver the Scottish Government’s agenda effectively, efficiently and in a joined-up way.

  To enable a detailed and objective review of whether HIAL continues to meet the expectations and objectives of ministers, we are now seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and independent individual or organisation to conduct a PFMR in the following areas:

  The best future delivery model for the functions currently carried out by HIAL;

  Company performance since 1999;

  The internal structures of HIAL;

  The government/HIAL working relationship, and

  Working relations with other stakeholders.

  A project steering group will be established to guide the review to final report stage and this will include representation from the Scottish Government, HIAL and the independent reviewer. The review will take account of the simplification announcement by the First Minister on 30 January 2008.

Cancer

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were diagnosed with bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the number of people diagnosed with bowel (colorectal) cancer are available by NHS board and year (1980-2004) on the Information Services Division website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/cancer_colorectal_inc.xls .

  The latest year for which cancer registration data are complete is 2004.

Cancer

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancer from 2002 to 2007 were under the age of 50.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the percentage of people in the NHS Grampian area diagnosed with bowel cancer from 2002 to 2007 under the age of 50 is shown in the following table:

  Table 1: The Percentage and Number of Cases of People Under the Age of 50 Diagnosed with Bowel (Colorectal) Cancer

  

 Year
 % under 50
 Total Number of Incident Cases


 2002
 4.9
 20


 2003
 6.0
 24


 2004
 5.7
 20



  The latest year for which cancer registration data are complete is 2004.

Cancer

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the NHS Grampian area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005, (e) 2006 and (f) 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information regarding the national bowel screening programme is available at:   http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/cancer .

  Implementation of the national bowel screening programme commenced in May 2007 and will be rolled out across all NHS boards by 2009-10. Data is not yet available for the national programme.

  Up until April 2007, NHS Grampian was one of the pilot sites for bowel screening and was one of the first to join the programme in May 2007. Information regarding how many patients were invited for screening is available for NHS Grampian, table 1. The uptake of screening in the Grampian area for the pilot was approximately 55%.

  Table 1: Numbers of People Invited for Bowel Cancer Screening in Grampian 2002-06

  

Year
Numbers Invited to Screen


2002
50,918


2003
67,779


2004
58,166


2005
40,924


2006
63,498

Communities

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3016 by Fergus Ewing on 28 August 2007, what recommendations officials have made in respect of further academic research into religious intolerance.

Fergus Ewing: As noted in the answer to question S3W-3016 on 5 September 2007, the Scottish Government does not directly support academic research. Officials are currently engaging with stakeholders to identify what useful research could be taken forward to support work to tackle religious intolerance and develop interfaith dialogue in Scotland and will report their findings to me.

Culture

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the cultural pathfinder programmes, showing how their current purpose compares with their purpose as originally described.

Linda Fabiani: The pathfinder programme, the majority of whose 13 projects began in January 2007, was established by the last administration to explore community engagement at a "grass roots" level, and ways to engage those who do not take part in culture – through some novel and meaningful approaches. Interim reports are currently being submitted by the projects. There is evidence that the programme is having some success in achieving its objectives, engaging target groups who were identified as "hard to reach" and under-represented in terms of cultural participation, and discovering what culture means to them and what their aspirations are. That is a common thread which runs through all of the projects; they are also exploring links between culture and community planning.

  Most of the projects in the programme are due to finish in the early part of 2008. An independent evaluation will soon be commissioned which will consider the interim findings and, later, the final impacts from the programme. The evaluation report will be published and widely disseminated.

Culture

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that voluntary organisations and community groups will be disadvantaged in relation to local authorities and professional organisations in bidding for funding to hold events as part of the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Jim Mather: The Homecoming Scotland Themed Events programme is open to all event organisers. The range of awards (£5,000 to £50,000) shows that the scale of activity funded will vary widely. It is a competitive process and the key consideration in allocating funding will be that proposed events fit the tourism objectives of Homecoming Scotland. EventScotland’s Homecoming team is in discussion with a wide range of organisations about potential events, many of them voluntary or community groups.

  Each potential applicant is being invited to talk through their proposal with the themed events programme manager and each project is given appropriate and specific advice to assist them in making the strongest possible application in time for the funding deadline of 26 February.

  EventScotland’s experience of funding through its Regional Programme, the model on which the Homecoming Themed Events Programme is based, is that on average 50% of successful applications come from community groups and that often the most innovative ideas come from grass-roots organisations.

Dentistry

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many lecturers will be employed at the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee and (c) Glasgow dental schools in the academic year 2008-09.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.

  The latest information currently available is for academic year 2005-06. In 2005-06, there the following number of academic staff (full-time equivalents) were employed in clinical dentistry:

  (a) Aberdeen 0

  (b) Dundee 36

  (c) Glasgow 45.

  Higher education institution staffing information for 2006-07 will be published in spring 2008.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out how people at risk of type 2 diabetes will be included as a priority target group in the Life Begins programme.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Life Begins programme will help to identify people at higher risk of disease so that they can be targeted to reduce this risk. This will include help with making lifestyle changes and medical interventions to reduce risks and treat any newly detected disease. This would include the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Divorce

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the divorce laws of Poland provide a positive example for the Scottish legal system.

Fergus Ewing: We have not examined the divorce laws of Poland in any detail. We research and study the legal systems of other countries where we feel that their systems and practices can inform and develop policy here, mindful that care is needed in importing features of other systems which may not be directly applicable to Scotland.

Divorce

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many divorces in Scotland in the last five years have involved Polish nationals where legal aid funding has been awarded to (a) the female partner exclusively, (b) the male partner exclusively and (c) both partners.

Fergus Ewing: Information relating to legal aid awards is collected centrally by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. It does not, however, hold definitive information on the nationality of individuals who are awarded legal aid. The board has advised that a search of its database produced a total of 16 applications relating to divorce action where the applicant’s place of birth is listed as "Poland". This cannot be taken as definitive since the applicant may have specified a town or city rather than the country in the application.

Employment

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs have been lost in (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency in each of the last eight years.

Jim Mather: There is no information held centrally on the number of jobs lost or created in Scotland. However, information on the number of jobs by industry is collected each year from the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI). Table 1 shows the number of manufacturing jobs in Scotland and the Kilmarnock and Loudon parliamentary constituency from 1999 to 2006. Please note the Kilmarnock and Loudon parliamentary constituency is based on the 1995 definition to allow a complete time series from 1999.

  The reference date for the ABI in the most recent year was changed from December to September so data for 2006 is not directly comparable with data from previous years.

  Table 1: Employee Jobs in Manufacturing, Scotland and the Kilmarnock and Loudon Parliamentary Constituency

  

 
 Scotland
 Kilmarnock and Loudon


 1999
 315,000
 5,900


 2000
 302,000
 5,500


 2001
 285,000
 5,200


 2002
 263,400
 4,800


 2003
 243,300
 4,700


 2004
 235,900
 3,700


 2005
 229,700
 3,500


 2006
 224,000
 3,700



  Source: Annual Business Inquiry.

  Notes:

  1. Data for 2006 is not consistent with previous years.

  2. Kilmarnock and Loudon is defined using the 1995 parliamentary constituency revisions.

  3. The data are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  4. ABI data are workplace based.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its energy strategy.

Jim Mather: The preparation of an overview of the Scottish Government’s energy policy is on-going and we intend to place such an overview on our website shortly.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to market the quality of river and loch angling in the highlands and islands as part of Scotland’s tourism industry.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland is responsible for promoting Scotland to potential tourists. The marketing aimed at fishing, which focuses on the quality of the wonderful fishing experience that is available in Scotland, is not specifically aimed at particular regions but promotes the whole of Scotland according to types of fishing, of which angling is one of the most popular.

  VisitScotland has developed a website (www.visitscotland.com/fish) that provides information on where to fish, what to bring and when to come for the best chance of success. There is also information on permit availability for nearly all of the main lochs and rivers in Scotland; some of which may be booked online. The information is divided into types of fishing rather than locations but does provide a regional listing of quality accommodation for visitors, making it easier for them to visit and book. VisitScotland has also produced an annual brochure on angling in Scotland that is mailed to over 30,000 people on their database with an interest in fishing.

  In March, April and May this year, VisitScotland will be promoting the quality of Scotland’s angling and fishing industry with full-page advertisements in several specialised fishing magazines.

Housing

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many first-time buyers purchased property in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) the first six months of financial year 2007-08.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many first-time buyers who purchased property in (a) Aberdeen City, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) the first six months of financial year 2007-08 were in age groups (A) 18 to 25, (B) 26 to 30, (C) 31 to 55 and (D) 56 and over.

Stewart Maxwell: This data is not held centrally.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many knives were confiscated by each police force in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06 and (e) 2006-07.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. The number of knives seized by police forces through initiatives carried out as part of the Safer Scotland Anti Violence Campaign 2006-07 are shown in the table below.

  Number of Knives Seized, by Police Force, 2006-07

  

 Force
 Number


 Central
 67


 Dumfries and Galloway
 18


 Fife
 49


 Grampian
 127


 Lothian and Borders
 140


 Northern
 58


 Strathclyde
 858


 Tayside
 49


 Total
 1,366


 
 


 British Transport Police (BTP)
 9


 Ministry of Defence Police (MoD)
 0


 Total - including BTP and MoD
 1,375



  Figures from the 2006-07 Safer Scotland anti-violence campaign.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many accused persons (a) were made subject to bail supervision and (b) offended while on bail over the last three years.

Kenny MacAskill: Statistics on the number of individuals made subject to bail supervision are given in table 12.1 of the Criminal Justice Social Work Statistics 2006-07 bulletin, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/11134527/0 .

  The available statistics on the number of offences with a charge proved in Scottish courts with a bail aggravator recorded (indicating that the offence was committed while the offender was on bail) are given in table 18 of the Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts 2005-06 statistical bulletin, available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/21083652/0.

  However, these statistics cannot identify whether the bail aggravator was specifically related to a bail supervision order.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were found to have carried an offensive weapon in Grampian in the last five years.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were found to have carried a knife in Grampian in the last five years.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return, and do not distinguish the circumstances of the crime, such as the age of the offender.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases accused persons were in custody pending trial for more than 140 days in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

  His response is as follows:

  The information you requested is not available, because we do not hold information on the start date of the trial.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extension of bail supervision schemes restricts the freedom of sheriffs to determine who is suitable for bail supervision.

Kenny MacAskill: No. The updated guidelines for supervised bail identify certain priority groups for this measure but subject to considerations of public safety and capacity issues do not preclude other accused from being granted supervised bail. The decision on whether an accused person should be bailed or remanded is for the court to make.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extension of bail supervision schemes is restricted to certain categories of accused persons.

Kenny MacAskill: The £500,000 investment in bail supervision recently announced and the updated guidelines issued extend slightly the categories of accused identified as priorities for this measure. The guidelines suggest priority for those with mental health problems, women accused, single parents, drugs misusers and young people aged between 16 and 21. Where capacity exists and subject to safeguards in respect of public safety, other accused outwith the priority groups can also be granted supervised bail.

Justice

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether being under the influence of alcohol is an excuse in law.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6897 on 12 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search .

Mental Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to improve the provision of mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus in 2008 to 2011.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to answer to question S3W-8625 on 28 January 2008 for information about what the Scottish Government is doing to develop and improve mental health services throughout Scotland and about the responsibilities of NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside for planning and providing these services in the areas mentioned. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at:  Questions & Answers Search .

Mental Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans for raising awareness of mental health in local communities.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the future of mental health improvement and population mental health. Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland invites discussion on what objectives and commitments should be set for 2008-11 as the next stage of this agenda. One of the proposed main themes for action is the promotion of mental wellbeing in local communities.

  Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid course is a training course designed to improve the mental health literacy of Scotland’s population. Since its launch in 2004 over 9000 people have attended the course.

  Better Health, Better Care, the Government’s over-arching action plan to transform the NHS in Scotland, launched in December 2007, aims to create a mutual NHS, where patients are partners rather than just recipients of care. A key part of this change will be in creating enabling health services, where people have the knowledge – including increased mental health literacy - confidence and motivation to make healthy choices. Enhancing mental health literacy in local communities – particularly in disadvantaged communities - will complement the health-promoting NHS in Scotland envisaged by Better Health Better Care in tackling priority areas such as smoking cessation, drug and alcohol abuse, obesity and reducing sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies: all areas where good mental health is a key determining factor.

Mental Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to allocate for delivering mental health services across Scotland during the period of the spending review.

Shona Robison: The record funding included within the draft Scottish Government Budget to 2010-11 will ensure continuity of approach and investment on mental health and other priorities by NHS boards, local authorities and other partners.

  Spend on mental health services will be drawn from the record funds allocated to NHS boards and local government. It is the responsibility of these agencies to work in partnership and to allocate funds from the total financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs, priorities and agreed targets including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and commitments.

Mental Health

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it intends to allocate for delivering mental health services in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Angus during the period of the spending review.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will be providing the NHS and local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11.

  For the NHS in Scotland, all NHS boards receive an annual allocation of funds, which will be announced shortly. It is for each NHS board to decide how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including mental health services, taking account of national and local priorities.

  The record funding included within the draft Scottish Government Budget will ensure continuity of approach and investment on mental health and other priorities by all NHS boards, local authorities and other partners and will support the delivery of the now four HEAT targets for NHS Scotland including the focus on early detection and support for those with dementia and for their families.

  For local government, the vast majority of the funding, including the funding for mental health services, will be provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

NHS Hospitals

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29708 by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2006, whether it will detail the findings of the inquiry panel into absconds from Ailsa Hospital.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29708 by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2006, what further action was taken in response to the findings of the inquiry panel into absconds from Ailsa Hospital.

Shona Robison: The detail of the full report with its findings is necessarily subject to restrictions placed on Ministers by the Data Protection Act 1998 and by the general law of patient confidentiality. Recommendations 6 and 11, which were directed to the Scottish Executive’s Mental Health Division, have since been accepted by the Scottish Government and are being progressed in conjunction with the Forensic Mental Health Services Managed Care Network and in the provision of a revised Memorandum of Procedure.

  I have placed a copy of the recommendations contained in the Hawkins Report, along with NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board’s response, in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44571).

NHS Hospitals

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28879 by Lewis Macdonald on 1 November 2006, what steps were taken following the findings of the critical incident review carried out by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Shona Robison: The full adverse incident report with 30 recommendations was submitted to the Executive Medical Director at Ayrshire and Arran Health Board and accepted in full on 24 October 2006. A detailed action plan was developed by the Head of Clinical Governance in Partnership with the Interim General Manager for Mental Health. Progress is monitored by the Clinical Governance Committee.

  I have placed a copy of the recommendations along with Ayrshire and Arran Health Board’s response in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44572).

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role of police forces, under their statutory duties set out in the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, in the investigation of allegations of criminality related to breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Kenny MacAskill: Police forces have a duty, under section 17(1)(b) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, where an offence has been committed to take all such lawful measures, and make such reports to the appropriate prosecutor, as may be necessary for the purpose of bringing the offender to justice. Such action is taken under appropriate guidance from the Lord Advocate.

Prison Service

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an interim study of the security at HM Prison Castle Huntly and the selection process for prisoners who go there, pending receipt of the fuller report of the Scottish Prison Service’s internal review.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

  His response is as follows:

  The review commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary will be completed and published by the end of February.

Prison Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in cases where the 140 days custody limit was exceeded, by what average number of days it was exceeded in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

  His response is as follows:

  The information you requested is not available, because we do not hold information on the start date of the trial.

Prison Service

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what security arrangements are made for prisoners in open prisons to attend events outside prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.

  His response is as follows:

  All prisoners who are transferred to the open estate have their suitability for attending events carefully considered. If access is allowed, then on all occasions a license is issued to the prisoner; this stipulates conditions which must be adhered to. Breach of any of those conditions will result in their being returned to closed prison conditions.

Science

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to offer financial assistance to the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh.

Jim Mather: The Royal Observatory has not asked the Scottish Government to provide financial assistance and we have no plans to do so. The UK Government’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has the primary responsibility for funding the Royal Observatory through its UK Astronomy Technology Centre facility (UKATC). We are aware of the potential difficulties at the Royal Observatory arising out of the STFC’s budget cuts, following the UK Government’s Spending Review. I have therefore written to John Denham, Secretary of State at the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills to express my concerns and I also plan to visit the Royal Observatory soon to discuss this issue further.

Scottish Government Funding

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to resolve the funding situation of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Fiona Hyslop: The current funding situation of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama is a matter for the Academy’s Principal and Board of Governors.

  In regard to future funding and prospect of further development of RSAMD it is for the Scottish Funding Council to determine the detail of funding allocations to individual higher education institutions.

Scottish Government Funding

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for addressing antisocial behaviour, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for community safety partnerships, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Police Capital Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for mental health services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Children’s Services Women’s Aid Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for private landlord registration, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Supporting People Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Violence Against Women Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for addressing delayed discharges, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the National Priorities Action Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for social work training, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the European Languages Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for education for looked after children, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Changing Children’s Services Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Teacher Induction Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Specialist Provision Programme - Centres of Excellence fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Children’s Legal Representation Grant Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated as school estate/PPP funding, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Early Years and Childcare Workforce Development Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for improving fostering services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for adoption services, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Youthwork for Local Delivery fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Schools Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Demand Responsive Transport Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Rural Public Passenger Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Bus Route Development Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for school travel co-ordinators, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Efficiency and Reform Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Cities Growth Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Supported Borrowing fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Piers and Harbours Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under Public Transport Fund and Integrated Transport Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Strategic Waste Fund, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Antisocial Behaviour Noise Grant Scheme, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated for air quality monitoring, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Flood Prevention and Coast Protection Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how funding, previously allocated under the Contaminated Land Grant, will be allocated in 2008-09, broken down by local authority and also expressed as a percentage of total funding for this purpose.

John Swinney: The government is not providing a separate funding allocation for this service for 2008-09. Instead, councils will receive an overall allocation and it will be for each council to determine how this is distributed locally across services to meet its statutory duties and also its commitments under the concordat.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the effectiveness of legislation to address sectarian behaviour and other public disorder offences during public parades.

Kenny MacAskill: We work closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland to monitor the effectiveness of the new procedures for marches and parades introduced in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006, and will be consulting all interested parties on the implementation of these provisions in the coming months.

Student Finance

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying for student loans and bank accounts.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has made no representations to the UK Government on the operation of the UK ID card scheme in relation to students applying for student loans. There are no plans for students domiciled in Scotland to require ID cards to apply for student loans.

  Personal details required to allow students to open bank accounts are a matter for each individual bank.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Staff

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide a breakdown of staff employed across its directorates by (a) nationality and (b) gender in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007.

Mike Pringle: The breakdown of staff employed across directorates by nationality and gender in 2007 is shown below. The system we currently operate does not facilitate the provision of accurate data for previous years as we operate on a one year timeframe and these are not data we have historically assembled and reported upon. As part of the HR Change Programme the SPCB will be considering the level of historical data any new HR IT system should provide.

  Breakdown of Staff by Gender:

  

 
 Total Staff
 Male
 Female


 2007
 495
 269
 226



  Breakdown of staff by Nationality:

  Australia 3

  British 39

  British or Irish 140

  Britain/New Zealand 1

  Eire 3

  English 5

  French 3

  Germany 1

  Great Britain 195

  New Zealand 1

  Other Commonwealth 1

  Other European Union 1

  Pakistan 1

  Russian 1

  Scottish 94

  South African 1

  United States 2

  Unknown 3.

  There are several categories for British nationalities set out in this response, i.e. British, British/Irish, Great Britain, English and Scottish. The reason for this is the changes in census categories which have to be reflected in the SPCB’s recruitment monitoring form.

Parliamentary Visitors

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by what process it decided to close the Parliament building to members of the public, other than those who are accompanied by pass holders, on Sundays.

Tricia Marwick: The issue of opening times and days was considered by the previous SPCB to ensure that resources were being used effectively. It noted that a fuller review should be carried out in 2007 when more data was available.

  The process adopted by the SPCB included: analysis of the established pattern of visitors across the week and take up of tours and retail; opening patterns at other UK and European legislatures; opening patterns at other Scottish visitor venues, in particular Our Dynamic Earth and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

  Taking into account these findings the SPCB also considered the savings resulting from closing on a Sunday and the benefits this might achieve for the public purse and the Parliament. This includes a shift of resources and emphasis to increased public engagement in new areas such as education activities at Holyrood and in the community.

  Finally, the SPCB satisfied itself that Monday – Saturday public opening, alongside members continued option of bringing in guests on a Sunday, offered a good range of visit opportunities for the public.

Parliamentary Visitors

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with personnel at the Palace of Holyroodhouse or Our Dynamic Earth regarding the attraction of greater numbers of visitors on Sundays.

Tricia Marwick: Officials have regular meetings with the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Our Dynamic Earth. Discussions were held around opening times and visitor patterns. Each institution submitted confidential information about their 2007 patterns to inform the SPCB’s discussions.

  The analysis of the Parliament’s data and that from the other institutions shows that the three institutions have very different patterns of visitors. This is to be expected given the institutions’ different aims.

  The analysis of data shows that Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the most popular days for visitors to the Scottish Parliament. This reflects the fact that parliamentary business and other business day activities, such as constituent meetings and parliamentary events, is consistently the strongest draw for visitors to the Parliament. This is to be expected, given that the Scottish Parliament is not primarily a visitor attraction but is a working Parliament, seeking to engage the public in its role and business.

  The opposite trend is found at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and Our Dynamic Earth, where weekends are the most popular days, reflecting their particular aims as visitor attractions.